A sensitive, rapid and specific liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for quantification of gabapentin in human plasma has been developed. After a single plasma protein precipitation with methanol, gabapentin and metformin (internal standard) were chromatographed on a Inertsil ODS-3 column (50 mm x 2.1 mm ID, 3 microm) with mobile phase consisting of methanol-0.2% formic acid aqueous solution (80:20, v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.2 mL x min(-1). Electrospray ionization (ESI) source was applied and operated in the positive ion mode. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with the transitions of m/z 172 --> m/z 154 and m/z 130 --> m/z 71 were used to quantify gabapentin and metformin, respectively. The run time was 2.2 min. The linear calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range of 40.8-8.16x10(3) ng x mL(-1). The lower limit of quantification was 40.8 ng x mL(-1). The intra- and inter-day precision (RSD) was less than 12%, and the accuracy (RE) was within +/-6.4% calculated from quality control (QC) samples. The method was used to determine the concentration of gabapentin in human plasma after a single oral administration of 600 mg gabapentin capsule to 20 healthy male Chinese volunteers. The method was proved to be selective, sensitive, rapid and suitable for pharmacokinetic study of gabapentin in human plasma.

Orally disintegrating tablets (ODT), a kind of new solid tablet that rapidly disintegrates to work in the mouth, has became the hot form of new drug research in recent years with many advantages, such as the convenient taking, a widely applicable people, fast acting, high bioavailability, good compliance, and so on. ODT has been widely used in chemical medicines, while the application of it in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) is still in the stage of development The development of TCMs ODT provides a new direction for the research of Chinese medicine new dosage, accelerates the pace of connecting to the world and modernization of Chinese medicine. This dosage has a broad market prospect, and its quality control and assessment standards, taste, the disintegration time in vitro and evaluation method are the key factors that affect the industrialization, standardization of Chinese medicine ODT. Therefore, this paper reviewed the characteristics, preparation, taste masking technology and quality evaluation with new technology of ODT. Meantime, numerous application examples of ODT used in traditional Chinese medicine were described. We expect to provide the reference and utilization for the development of traditional Chinese medicine orally disinteeratine tablets.
Administration, Oral ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Solubility ; Tablets ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Taste

Objective To explore the clinical and neuroimaging features of a frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 ( FTDP-17 ) pedigree caused by mutation of microtubule-associated protein tau ( MAPT) gene.Methods The proband and one patient from a FTDP-17 pedigree were assessed through standardized clinical evaluation , neuropsychology assessment , video-electroencephalogrom ,MRI, genetic sequencing , as well as 18 F fludeoxyglucose ( FDG) SPECT for brain metabolism and 11 C 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-( 4-fluoro ) tropane ( CFT ) PET for dopamine transporter ( DAT ) distribution, respectively.Results A FTDP pedigree with 15 patients (6 still alive) was recruited to this study.The proband and one affected patient were genotyped and confirmed as MAPT c .1788T>G mutation. Parkinsonism was the first symptom for both two patients . Personality, speech changes and dementia accompanied with brain atrophy were developed at the later stage in one patient .The 18 F FDG SPECT studies illustrated asymmetric hypometabolism of the temporal , frontal lobes and basal ganglia in two patients . Regarding to the 11 C CFT PET, one affected patient showed asymmetric decreased uptake of tracer in basal ganglia regions.Conclusions FTDP-17 can display a confusingly broad clinical phenotype , with the parkinsonism as the first symptom . Brain glucose metabolism and DAT distribution could be potential biomarkers in early diagnosis of FTDP-17.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in a rat model of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM).

METHODSThirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, diabetes group and treatment group( n = 10). Intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin was utilized to establish a rat model of DCM. The rats with DCM in treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with NaHS solution. After treated for 12 weeks, the hearts isolated from rats were perfused on a langendorff apparatus. The ventricular hemodynamic parameters were measured. The ultrastructures of myocardium were observed using electron microscopy. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in myocardial tissue were determined by spectrophotometry. The expressions of C/EBP homologous protein( CHOP), glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and Caspase 12 at mRNA level in myocardium were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the cardiac function and myocardial ultrastructure were damaged obviously in diabetic rats. In myocardial tissue, the content of MDA was increased, while the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased. CHOP, GRP78 and Caspase 12 mRNA expressions were increased significantly. Compared with diabetes group, cardiac function and myocardial ultrastructure damage were improved in treatment group. The content of MDA was decreased, while the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were increased significantly. The mRNA levels of CHOP, GRP78 and Caspase 12 were increased.

CONCLUSIONH2S can protect myocardium in diabetic rats, maybe it is related to reduce oxidative stress damage and inhibition of the ERS-induced apoptosis pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies ; drug therapy ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; pharmacology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; ultrastructure ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Streptozocin ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; metabolism

The study on the pharmacokinetics of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) is a linking science during the modernization of TCMs, and plays an important role in the studies on the complex material base of TCMs, the in vivo process of ingredient/ component and the pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics correlation. However, because of the multi-ingredient/component system of TCMs, how to scientifically reveal the pharmacokinetics that is consistent with TCMs' characteristics has long been a hotspot and difficulty for the exploration. The optimal composition structure of the material basis of TCMs shows the best efficacy, while the difference between the multi-ingredient/component composition structures in the efficacy is closely related to their absorption, transport, metabolism and excretion in vivo. In this article, the authors systematically review the study methods for pharmacokinetics of TCMs and their compounds, and explore the pharmacokinetics of TCMs based on the "component structure theory". As a result, the method for integrating TCM component structure and the TCM pharmacokinetics was proposed to be adopted to intensively study the effect of the component structure on the in vivo TCM multi-ingredient/component pharmacokinetic characteristics, in order to promote the TCM modernization and innovation in China.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Pharmacokinetics ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Objective To evaluate the influence of different cannulation technique in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopanereatography (ERCP) on success rate, risk of post-ERCP complication and operation time of the procedure. Methods The data of 120 patients who underwent ERCP from June 2000 to June 2008 because of biliary duct disorders were retrospectively studied. Conventional carmulation technique was applied in 60 patients and guide-wire eannulation was used in other 60. The success rate, total time of ERCP operation and the incidence of post-ERCP complications including acute pancreatitis and biliary system infec-tion within 7 days were assessed. Results Compared with conventional carmulation technique, selective can-nulation with a standard ERCP catheter under the assistance of guide-wire proved a higher success rate and a shorter operation time (P<0.05). Incidences of postoperative pancreatitis and infection with conventional cannulation were 10.0% (6/60) and 23.3% (14/60), respectively, while with guide-wire assisted cannu-lation were 3.3% (2/60) and 10.0% (6/60), respectively. No complication of bleeding was observed in either group. Conclusion Guide-wire assisted cannulation in ERCP can shorten operation time, improve success rate and reduce post-ERCP complications. Further evaluations are warranted.

Objective To investigate the changes and significance of concentration of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of bacterial meningitis(BM) in rabbits. Methods A total of 36 rabbits were randomly divided into m eningitis group, meningitis cefotaxime-treated group and control group. BM indu ced by escherichia coli(Ec) via cerebellomedullary cistern inoculated. Normal sa line was injected in control group. CSF was sampled in different time. The conce ntration of CSF sICAM-1 was detected by ELISA.Results 1.There was a low concentration of sICAM-1 in CSF in 85 percent of normal rabbi ts.2.In meningitis group, there was a sharp rise in the concentration of CSF sIC AM-1 at 6 hours after Ec was inoculated, reached a peak level at 12 hours, and t here was higher concentration of CSF sICAM-1 between 6 and 24 hour than that at 0 hour.3.In meningitis cefotaxime-treated group, the concentration of CSF sICAM -1 at 6 hour and 12 hours was similar to meningitis group, the time that get pe ak level was at 24 hours that at 12 hours after making use of antimicrobial agen t.The peak level was higher than meningitis group. The concentration of CSF sICA M-1 decreased markedly at 48 hours that made use of antimicrobial agent 36 hour s later,but the concentration was still higher than the peak level of meningitis group.Afterwards, with the time of making use of antimicrobial agent lengthened ,the concentration of CSF sICAM-1 decreased gradually.4.Experimental results in dicated by correlating analysis to these data that there was positive correlatio n in the concentration of CSF sICAM-1 with the brain water content.Conclusions sICAM-1 participates in the pathological process of BM, and contributes to the damage of blood brain barrier and the formation of brain edema.There is importan t significance that drugs which can resist the discharge of sICAM-1 will be impl ied. J Appl Clin Pediatr,2005,20(2):163-165

AIM:To observe the structural basis of ocular motility abnormalities in patients with congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles type Ⅰ ( CFEOM Ⅰ) due to missense mutations in the developmental kinesin KIF21A using high - resolution magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) .
METHODS: Totally 11 affected individuals reported KIF21A mutations were correlated with MRI studies demonstrating extraocular muscles ( EOMs ) size, location, contractility, and innervation. EOMs and the motor nerve in the orbits were imaged with T1 weighted in a triplanar scan using a dual-phased coils with 2. 0mm thick. Motor nerves were imaged at the brainstem using head coils and 3D-FIESTA with 0. 6-mm thick.
RESULTS: Patients with CFEOM Ⅰ exhibited different degrees of hypoplasia of oculomotor nerve, the abducens nerve and the trochlear nerve were also affected, of which 8 cases of orbital section could see the signal of abnormal nerve dominated by oculomotor nerve to lateral rectus. The both sides of six EOMS in all patients exhibited variable atrophy and abnormal bright internal signal on T1 imaging, particularly severe for the superior rectus and levator muscles.
CONCLUSION: High - resolution MRI can directly demonstrate pathology of motor nerves,affected EOMs, and ‘Pulley' hypoplasia caused by CFEOM Ⅰ due to mutations in KIF21A,and these findings suggest that the neuronal hypoplasia is the etiological factor of CFEOM.

AIM: To investigate the dynamic variety of frequency and function of FoxP3~+ regulatory T cells in patients with acute hepatitis B (AHB). METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 15 AHB patients at acute phase (week 1 of illness), convalescent phase (primary occurrence of both ALT level normalization and HBsAg negative conversion), resolved phase (at least 8 weeks after both ALT normalization and HBsAg seroconversion, and 15 health subjects were analyzed for FoxP3 (Forkhead/winged helix transcription factor) mRNA expression in MACS magnetic beads-purified CD4~+ T cells by real-time RT-PCR assay. The effects of Treg cells on the proliferation of CD4~+CD25~- T cells were examined by a ~3[H]-thymidine incorporation assay. RESULTS: AHB patients presented a significantly higher FoxP3 mRNA expression at convalescent phase than acute phase (t=-6.04, P<0.01) and resolved phase (t=4.45, P<0.01), and healthy controls (t=3.44, P<0.01). We also observed that the suppression efficiency of Treg cells on proliferation of CD4~+CD25~- T cells was lower at acute phase than convalescent phase (t=-5.30, P<0.01) and resolved phase (t=-3.20, P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between healthy controls and any phase of AHB. CONCLUSION: AHB patients presented lower circulating Treg frequency and suppression function at acute phase, and both of them are increased at convalescent phase, and then return to normal level along with disease resolved. This follow-up study furthers our understanding of Treg' s role in immunopathogenesis of hepatitis B.

Aim To explore the role of Rho-kinase in remote ischemic postcondi-tioning and its possible mechanism.Methods Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups(n=6): sham group(Sham), ischemia/reperfusion group(I/R), remote ischemic postconditioning group(RIPostC), I/R with Rho-kinase inhibitor fasudil group(I/R+Fas) and RIPostC with Rho-kinase activator lysophosphatidic acid group(RIPostC+LPA).Throughout the whole process of experiment, mean arterial pressure(MAP), heart rate(HR) and Ⅱ lead electrocardiogram were continuously monitored.At the end of the reperfusion, plasma creatine kinase(CK) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) were measured.Myocardial histopathologic changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining.Infarct size was measured using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining.The expressions of phospho-myosin light chain(p-MLC) were detected with Western blot analysis.Results Compared with Sham group, the MAP and HR of other groups decreased, while the amplitude of ST segment increased.Compared with I/R group, MAP and HR increased, the amplitude of ST segment decreased, plasma CK and LDH activity decreased, myocardial pathological morphology and infarct size were improved significantly, infiltration of inflammatory cells was reduced, and the expression of p-MLC decreased in RIPostC and I/R+Fas group.Compared with RIPostC group, RIPostC+LPA group attenuated the effects of RIPostC, and the recovery of the above indicators were inhibited.Conclusion Rho-kinase signaling pathway might mediate remote ischemia postconditioning against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.